PROBLEMS SOLVED & PLANT IN PRODUCTION MODE:
Solving those water problems at Ft. Union was complicated, and very time consuming. Evergreen solicited several "expert" opinions, but even the so-called "experts" couldn't agree on the best solution. So Evergreen had to make the best decision, and move forward. That took a great deal of time, because you can't just buy this kind of equipment off the shelf at your local Walmart.
Evergreen acquired the Ft. Union site with some very deep disposal wells, in the area of 9,000 feet deep, if I remember correctly. Those things are expensive, in the area of a million bucks, and you just don't dig and permit them overnight. (In retrospect maybe it would have been cheaper to haul the excess waste water off to the Pumpkin Butte Disposal for $1 a gallon, even if it was a long trip!)
It was my understanding that this past spring Evergreen had to bring a third injection well on line. They also played some games with the existing wells, increasing the injection pressure, and putting a filter before the well head. (To keep it from clogging up, I presume.)
I don't think they've played that game with the tanker truck disposal method for more than a year. That was just used to haul away the excess water when they shipped that first unit train to First Energy last summer. After that they decided to ship only short trains while they were working on the water disposal problems.
Collins told us during the last conference call that all the water problems had been solved. Bechtel was satisfied enough to sign that billion dollar EPC contract. Evergreen then thought it safe to install the new water handling system on the "A" processor. I'm sure we'll get an update during the upcoming November 6th conference call.
*Evergreen operates only 100% legal, fully permitted injection wells for wastewater disposal. Keep in mind that the waste which is being disposed of is simply the "juice" that was squeezed out of the coal. Coal in the PRB is located very close to the surface, helping to explain why the local artesian water is so yucky. Injecting the nasty coal waste deep underground, FAR BENEATH THE LOCAL WATER TABLE, is actually very environmentally friendly.
# Gillette Plant Operational Update
by Evergreen Energy on Mon 29 Oct 2007 01:54 PM MDT | Permanent Link
By Kevin Collins, President and CEO
We recently shipped a significant quantity of K-Fuel® from our Ft. Union facility in Gillette, Wyoming. This train is on its way to our Buckeye facility, where it will be blended with an eastern coal, and then shipped to a utility for testing of K-Fuel®. This customer is testing K-Fuel® as a solution to the stringent forthcoming mercury regulations it faces in the state of Pennsylvania.
Over the last several months, Evergreen has been shipping smaller quantities via truck and short train. This was an effort to maximize the reach of our production and to get it to as many customers as possible, for both commercial and test burn purposes.
Recent improvements in plant reliability and consistency have been achieved, which allows us to start shipping larger quantities. In September we embarked upon some major improvements to the plant support systems, focusing on our B processor.
Our technical staff at Ft. Union, who work 24/7 to maximize production at the world’s first coal refinery, were instrumental in getting these upgrades in place. Our yields are higher, and throughput has improved. Now that we have reliable, consistent performance at Ft. Union, we are working to schedule continuous train shipments of K-Fuel® every several weeks to customers.
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